Blonde '62 Bandmaster: what's a fair price?

TelZilla · August 16th, 2007, 02:52 PM

All-
My brother has a super-clean 1962 blonde Bandmaster Head and cab. Looks just like the one below. It's a great amp, which has been christened "Electric Mud" by him (eMud for short).

Anyway, the piggyback configuration, size and weight of the thing are sort of impractical for his uses at this point, and he's thinking of selling it. It's really a tough decision, so I thought I'd solicit some opinions here...

What's a fair price? How can he tell if his cab is original (it does not have the faceplate, but otherwise it looks pretty authentic to me)? What sorts of things really matter to the vintage amp geeks? What were the original speakers? Is it going to be worth $10,000 dollars in 5 years.

Just to make you weep: He got it in '94-'95 for about $500. From an awesome shop in Bloomington, IN called Roadworthy (no affiliation).

PrudyMuskethead · August 16th, 2007, 02:56 PM

Hi,

Just my 2 cents...

If it's collector's grade, untouched original and very clean it's probably worth about $2500-$3500 to a serious collector.

If its mostly original and a clean 'player's grade' I'd bet he could easily get between $2000 and $2500 for it.

Just my opinion...by the way, these amps sound great and if I had one I wouldn't be selling it!

Prudy

Bluesbob · August 16th, 2007, 03:44 PM

at Southside Guitars in Brooklyn

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/Gea...x?Item=1511829

I'd make it into a combo!

TelZilla · August 16th, 2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrudyMuskethead

If it's collector's grade, untouched original and very clean it's probably worth about $2500-$3500 to a serious collector.

If its mostly original and a clean 'player's grade' I'd bet he could easily get between $2000 and $2500 for it.

Just my opinion...by the way, these amps sound great and if I had one I wouldn't be selling it!

Prudy

Yeah, I know it's a tough decision... but 2 grand is a lot of cabbage

Mik · August 16th, 2007, 07:34 PM

Have your bro do me a favor: price it far out of my reach!

Mik

jjmantele · August 16th, 2007, 08:22 PM

Vintage guitars and amps have appreciated far more than most investments over the last 10 years or so. I think this will continue for many years. We can than the internet for much of it.

If money is tight one may need to sell. Otherwise I’d consider it a valuable treasure and part of the retirement fund, assuming it hasn’t been molested.

octatonic · August 16th, 2007, 09:16 PM

Not sure if this helps but I bought a '62 Fender Bassman a couple of years ago for $1300 in players condition (had a badly done mod that I had to remove).

TelZilla · August 16th, 2007, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octatonic

Not sure if this helps but I bought a '62 Fender Bassman a couple of years ago for $1300 in players condition (had a badly done mod that I had to remove).

Does that price include the cab? What speakers?

octatonic · August 17th, 2007, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TelZilla

Does that price include the cab? What speakers?

Just the head.
Still looking for an original cab to go with it- I currently use a Marshall 2x12 with greenbacks, which sounds great but doesn't cosmetically match.
I don't really mind though- I try not to pay vintage prices if I can avoid it.

Mark Davis · August 17th, 2007, 01:10 AM

Is that like the one Brian Setzer uses?

octatonic · August 17th, 2007, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

Is that like the one Brian Setzer uses?

Funny you ask this- yes same one.
I know this because I've been rehearsing some rockabilly lately and wanted to do a bit of research into the sound and found I use the same amp.
I didn't find this out until around Wednesday this week.

PrudyMuskethead · August 17th, 2007, 09:36 AM

Just keep in mind, too, that when we're talking about blonde and brown face Fender piggyback amps, Bassmans tend to command a much higher price than the Bandmasters.

Not that they sound that much better necessarily, but they are much more popular.

Prudy

August 16th, 2007, 03:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bluesbob Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: East Suffolk L.I. Posts: 1,013 20 Photos	Here's one... at Southside Guitars in Brooklyn http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/Gea...x?Item=1511829 I'd make it into a combo! __________________ What, me worry?

August 16th, 2007, 07:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mik Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,416	Have your bro do me a favor: price it far out of my reach! Mik __________________ a "motor-bike with a touch of blood in it is better than all the riding animals on earth, because of its logical extension of our faculties, and the hint, the provocations, to excess."-T.E. Lawrence

August 16th, 2007, 08:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
jjmantele Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 846	Vintage guitars and amps have appreciated far more than most investments over the last 10 years or so. I think this will continue for many years. We can than the internet for much of it. If money is tight one may need to sell. Otherwise I’d consider it a valuable treasure and part of the retirement fund, assuming it hasn’t been molested. __________________ JJman If it says "Vintage" on it -it isn't.

August 17th, 2007, 01:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,477	Is that like the one Brian Setzer uses? __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

August 16th, 2007, 02:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
PrudyMuskethead Banned TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle Age: 34 Posts: 75	Hi, Just my 2 cents... If it's collector's grade, untouched original and very clean it's probably worth about $2500-$3500 to a serious collector. If its mostly original and a clean 'player's grade' I'd bet he could easily get between $2000 and $2500 for it. Just my opinion...by the way, these amps sound great and if I had one I wouldn't be selling it! Prudy

August 16th, 2007, 09:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
octatonic Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2007 Location: An Australian in London. Posts: 1,572	Not sure if this helps but I bought a '62 Fender Bassman a couple of years ago for $1300 in players condition (had a badly done mod that I had to remove).

August 17th, 2007, 09:36 AM	#12 (permalink)
PrudyMuskethead Banned TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle Age: 34 Posts: 75	Just keep in mind, too, that when we're talking about blonde and brown face Fender piggyback amps, Bassmans tend to command a much higher price than the Bandmasters. Not that they sound that much better necessarily, but they are much more popular. Prudy